Staff Biographies

Staff Biographies

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David Musick, Ph.D., Director

I have been involved in medical education since 1992, and have held various faculty and administrative positions at three medical schools prior to arriving at Carilion Clinic in July 2013. I have worked in all three levels of physician training (UME, GME, CME) as an educational specialist. My teaching experiences with health professions learners have focused on the general areas of bioethics, health systems, social and cultural aspects of medicine and educational assessment. I have been the principal investigator on several education-related grants, and have also done major fund development work. My research interests include faculty and curriculum development, educational assessment, spirituality and medicine, bioethics and clinical education in rehabilitation. A current focus of my research is medical professionalism and the learning environment.

I've earned a doctorate in Educational Evaluation & Policy Studies from the University of Kentucky, a master's degree in Sociology from East Tennessee State University, a post-graduate certificate in Bioethics from the University of Washington, and a BS in Human Relations from Milligan College.

Shari Whicker, Ed.D., ME.d., Associate Director

I began my career in adult learning in 1994 and shifted my focus to medical education in 1999. I completed my Master’s Degree in Education (MEd) in 2005 and my Doctorate in Adult Learning (EdD) in 2012, both at North Carolina State University.

Over the past 15 years, I have fostered a passion for medical education teaching, learning, and education research in educator and educational leadership roles in the Wake Forest and Duke University Health Systems. These roles have spanned the continuum of medical education to include medical students, trainees, and physician faculty as well as staff and learners from affiliated health professions. I excitedly joined the faculty as Medical Education and Faculty Development Specialist at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in July 2014.

My background reflects active leadership in the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs to guide the development of physicians and other health professions educators. I thrive most when developing and working within communities of practice of Health Professions educators. Through these communities, it has been a joy to see faculty and, in turn, learners grow both independently and in their relationships with other members of the community.

I look forward to continuing my teaching, learning, and medical education scholarship here, within the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and look forward to making a positive contribution regarding our educational mission.

Beth Pline, LMSW, Education and Faculty Development Specialist

I have been involved in clinical and crisis management training for over 30 years and curriculum development since 1990. I was a trainer for members of the United Way system in Texas, North Carolina and Virginia in Outcome Measurement techniques. I began working in non-profit management in 1993 and prior to that held social work positions in hospitals and outpatient settings. I served as clinical director at two separate women’s health centers in Houston, TX and Roanoke, Va.

My research interests include community information management following disaster, school-based social work and most recently, research into the admissions processes at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

I earned a Masters in Social Work, specializing in both clinical and political social work from the University of Houston, where I later served as adjunct faculty. I received my BA in Sociology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I have held adjunct faculty positions in Duke University’s Non-Profit Management Program and Radford University’s Non-Profit Management Program.

Sandra DeHart, Education Coordinator

I joined Continuing Professional Development in January of 2012. In my role as Professional Education Coordinator, I organize and prepare for education sessions, develop marketing materials, prepare documentation for Continuing Medical Education credit for the sessions, document budget activity, and provide general support for Continuing Professional Development office functions. My educational history is centered on Communication and Web Page Design. I am excited to have this opportunity in Continuing Professional Development to stretch my wings in areas of my continued interest and expertise.